Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Tiny Kitten in a Box


What you need:
~ fleece scraps -- black, white, and light and dark of a color of your choosing -- I will call it blue throughout the tutorial
~ thread (I used white for everything!)
~ tissue paper
~ pencil
~ finely pointed scissors
~ free-motion presser foot (optional but highly recommended!)
~ small amount of fiberfill stuffing
~ pattern -- click HERE! (pg 1 = cat, pg 2 = box)

Please read through the entire tutorial before starting -- the cutting directions will make SO much more sense that way!


STEP ONE: Using a pencil, trace the pattern onto your tissue paper. Cut it out, leaving about an inch around the perimeter.


STEP TWO: Cut your fleece.
Important: Be sure the stretch of your fleece runs left to right!
You will need:
2 light blue rectangles the same size as your tissue paper pattern
1 white rectangle large enough to cover the eyes and nose of your pattern1 black rectangle large enough to cover the pupils and nose of your pattern
1 dark blue rectangle large enough to cover the width of your pattern plus the height of the stripes
(You don't need to measure -- eyeball and chop. If all else fails, cut all your pieces the same size as your pattern!)


STEP THREE: Layer as follows:
Place one light blue rectangle right side DOWN. Place your tissue paper on top. Lift it up and place your white rectangle over the area where the eyes and nose will be, then place it back down so the white is on the bottom and the tissue paper is on top.


Like this!


STEP FOUR: Sew around the eyes and the cheeks/chin. I use my free-motion foot for this, but if you don't have one you can do the needle-down-lift-the-foot-and-turn maneuver.


Here's what it will look like on the other side.


STEP FIVE: Using your scissors, carefully trim the excess fleece away from around your stitching lines.


STEP SIX: Layer your black rectangle over the eyes and nose.


Flip everything over to the pattern side and sew around the pupils and nose.


Trim away excess.


STEP SEVEN: Layer your dark blue rectangle over the stripe area of the light blue rectangle. Again, be sure the stretch of your fleece runs left to right.


STEP EIGHT: Flip over and sew the stripe lines. Trim away excess fleece.


STEP NINE: Layer your second light blue rectangle on top of your kitten's face, right sides together.


Flip over and sew on the line, leaving about two inches at the bottom open for turning and stuffing.


STEP TEN: Tear away as much of the tissue paper as you care to -- it doesn't matter if it's perfect because it will all hide inside!


STEP ELEVEN: Trim near your stitching line all the way around except at the bottom opening, as shown.


STEP TWELVE: Turn your kitten right side out, carefully poking the ears out with a blunt object. Stuff her!


STEP THIRTEEN: Carefully poke the seam allowances of the opening inside and hand sew the hole closed. (Look what happened to my apparently very weak needle! I was pulling it straight, and -- pow!)


Voila! A cute little kitten!


You can definitely get creative with colors. Look at these little special-request kittens I made for my nieces and nephew:
It's definitely extra work to give them colored eyes and pink noses, but they just turn out so cute that way!


The box pattern is on page 2 of the pattern file. I tried a few kinds of cardboard, but the cardboard from a pizza box was definitely the best scale.

Best of luck with your kittens!
Please pretty please post photos to my flickr group if you make one! :o)

56 comments:

Bree said...

This is so adorable! And it looks like you spent a ton more time working on them than it actually takes. Thanks for sharing!

Cassandra {Sleeping or Sewing} said...

OMG! You're amazing! I wondered how you got those tiny details onto your crafts. What a great tissue tutorial!

liz said...

oh my god those are so cute! i never thought of sewing a whole piece of fleece and cutting away the extra. i always struggle with little itty bits of fabric shifting around. brilliant tutorial!

pxilated said...

You use a free motion foot often. I got one to use for quilting, but I'm having trouble making it work. I can get about 10 stitches in nicely and then the needle comes unthreaded or the thread catches in the bobbin and then the bobbin thread starts bunching up and the entire thing is a mess. How differently do you set the tension on your machine when you're using the free motion foot versus a regular one? Any advice? Thanks.

Katie@a mom, a wife, and a me said...

I heart that! My daughter loves little thing, im going to have to get me some super sharp little sissiors... good idea to just cut it away I hate sewing tiny pieces

mommy Orkid Belle said...

Oh my goodness! These are just so cute and adorable. Thanks for sharing! :) I would like to make some if I have some time and some materials. :) I will let you know if I did. :)

Adin B

Unknown said...

These are super adorable! They would make great pocket pets.

DJ Rose said...

You are a genius. That is the best step. I totally see this technique getting transfered to other projects. Thanks for sharing

Anna M. said...

These are so cute, and you make them so perfectly.

Ms Muffin said...

Oh my, these are stunningly cute!!! They kinda remind me of the sock owls I am working on since ... way before Christmas. :-D Not finished yet!
These are so adorable. And I love kitties. And my daughter does, too. Wish I had some time on my hands to try these ....

Anonymous said...

Just a quick note to let you know that a link to this post will be placed on CraftCrave today [17 Feb 12:00am GMT]. Thanks, Maria

Caroline @ Artfully Caroline said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jess@craftiness is not optional said...

oh goodness! just the cutest things ever. Need me some fleece!

Bean Bell said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Bean Bell said...

I had felt on hand and made a kitty today! I was so excited to see the tutorial I couldn't wait. Here is my kitty

Eileen Cox said...

Hooray! Glad to see your tutorial up and running! I'm ready to make a little Mini-Sewing-Assistant now - I might leave the tissue paper in, as the Large-Sewing-Assistant loves crinkly things. Think this will keep him occupied a bit while I'm cutting things out? :)

randi said...

Yes! I am so glad you posted a tutorial! Now I just need to find some free time to make these with my girl. She is going to flip when she sees these!

Anne said...

This is the cutest thing ever!! Seriously, the itty bitty kitty, and he's got his own box! Love it! I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/tutorial-super-cute-kitten-softie-in-an-itty-bitty-box/2011/02/17/

--Anne

Elegantpaws said...

Naw!! So adorable! my cats LOVE boxes too so it's very fitting. Can't wait to try!

superstitches said...

Interesting technique. I'm definitely going to try it. Love the cute kitties.

Eunice said...

U never fails to amaze me with your talent and creativity. So pretty.

Michele T said...

I fell in love with these the second I laid my eyes on them! They are awesome and the boxes are too cute! Thanks for sharing.

Sachiko said...

Those are so adorable! My kids loved your cats. :)

Cristina Freitas said...

Perfect!*.*

Jenn said...

That's so dear... Love it! Thanks for sharing!

katie said...

love these!
I featured this on my blog, here:
http://punkprojects.blogspot.com/2011/02/make-it-monday_21.html

-Katie

Adeela said...

That is SO cute!♥ I am gonna make some of those and i'm sure they are gonna be a hit in my house.

♥adeela♥

Lettie B. said...

This is so cute! And I would have never thought to simply layer the fabrics and then sew. I'd be going the slow route - cutting out an eye, sewing it on, cutting another eye, etc. I love it. Thanks! (I got here via Made by Rae and and really enjoying everything I've seen on your blog so far.)

Barbie said...

SOOO cute! I'm pretty sure if my daughter saw these she would have an instant request!

Budapest Monster said...

Your kittens are SO adorable! I made two of them last night and my son LOVES them. They are surprisingly easy to make too. Thanks!!

Stacy said...

These are adorable! I had to go buy fabric at JoAnn's today to make some of these. The Angry Birds too. Can't wait to try both. Thanks SO much for sharing!!

Mhairi said...

So glad I am not the only one who has needles self destruct on them.
Love these kitties, I think I am going to be making a lot for my children and their friends.

Jenniffer said...

Oh my godsh so darn adorable. i'm a huge cat lover. I'm so glad i learned to sew. I can't wait to make some. Thank you for sharing the pattern!

BluuBlaa ^_^ said...

Do you sell this ?

Anonymous said...

thank you so much for sharing! they are sooo cute!! will be linking if you don't mind - the post is going to go up in a couple of days on http://genuinemudpie.ca/2011/10/01/this-weeks-awesome-finds-3/

Ninjagian Roleplayer said...

i love this its so cute!

aeneadellaluna said...

Amazinggg work! These are adorableeeee! Love them :)

Ange Moore said...

These kittens are just beautiful - I'm going to have to give this a go ASAP! Thanks for sharing.

Amie {Kitty Cats and Airplanes} said...

These are the cutest things I've ever seen. Thanks so much for making them free!!

Unknown said...

I love this!! Do you sell them? Im having a despicable ne party! If so, can you email me at ndelsrosa@me.com

Unknown said...

Ndelarosa@me.com sorry

Abuela Creativa said...

Preciosos!! Gracias!

Matachupi said...

so cute!!! thanks you!!!

Lunachik said...

Adorable...I'm going to make a whole 'litter' of them and gift to a friends cat-crazy 5yr old...boxed up, of course...so she can have her "box of kittens" whenever she likes! ;-) thanks for generously sharing your skills and tips
BlessIngs

Jen said...

Love these...but with a little catnip stuffed in the center I bet my kitties will love them even more!

Susan said...

Does the black itty bitty kitty with the green eyes (in the box) have a tail?? If so, how do we do that? Adorable!!!

Jesse Gipe said...

Apologies if this is denoted somewhere, but:
Would it be acceptable to make and sell these at a craft fair? I would probably have a printout of the pattern with the website to credit you. I'm planning on making cat toys and some for kids to play with, and I'd love to include these little darlings.

Unknown said...

feeding stuff Lost and found

Unknown said...

its make a fun day :)

Unknown said...

oh my!!! These are soooo cute! I got to featured these little cute guys in my blog! Thanks for sharing! Love the pattern and the tutorial, so clear and easy to follow! By the way I featured this tutorial here: http://www.plushiepatterns.com/kitten-in-a-box-plushie-pattern-by-obsessively-stitching/

Catrscr said...

these are so precious and your directions are good. Thanks!

Jannett said...

how can I get this pattern?

thanks
Jannett

josenialves said...

Mas vc não disse que ponta podemos usar para tal costura, pois o feltro é um tecido diferente, por favor defina. Obrigada!

Sister Pottymouth said...

I would love to get the pattern for this. Is it available still? The link you have in your instructions no longer works.

Annelies said...

I would love to get this lovely pattern for this too.
Is it available still?
The link you have in your instructions no longer works.

Notice
This document has been removed from Scribd.


Sincerely,
adamko

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